New state law could assist with child care costs at Moraine Valley

Students and community members in the Moraine Valley Community College district may be eligible for assistance with child care costs under a new Illinois House Bill signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner.

Denise Lumpkin, director of the Children’s Learning Center at Moraine Valley, encourages parents who were not previously eligible for assistance to reapply. “This new bill signed by the governor may affect their eligibility, and they just might get help,” she said.

People who are non-TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), as well as those not working and going to school full-time, may now be eligible for funds for child care costs through the Child Care Assistance Program. “It’s a good idea for those who needed help with paying for child care before and were denied to revisit because the funds may be available,” she said.

HB 3213 immediately restores eligibility for non-TANF families in education and training programs, and protects against future disruptions to their education by naming them a priority population.

Students and community members in the Moraine Valley Community College district may be eligible for assistance with child care costs under a new Illinois House Bill signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner.

A state budget agreement was reached nearly two months ago. 30,000 fewer children have access to
child care in Illinois today than in June 2015, when the Governor made dramatic and devastating changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

A compromise was reached to bring income eligibility up to 162% of the Federal Poverty level and then return eligibility to the minimum statutory threshold of 185% of FPL when Illinois had a budget.

To find out more about eligibility, visit actforchildren.org. For more information on enrolling in child care at Moraine Valley, contact Lumpkin at (708) 608-4403.